The Kol Isha Podcast

Avigail Hasson aka @themodestbohemian was born in the Phillipines and came to the US as a young child. Due to various life circumstances, she found herself questioning the meaning of her existence as a young adult, which set on the path to discovery of HaShem and Judaism. Today she is a proud Orthodox Jewish Woman, wife, and mom, who focuses on beautifying Judaism through the mitzvah of Tznius (modesty). 

What do the "days of awe" mean to you? As children we are taught a rudimentary version of these important Jewish concepts, and as we mature, so does the depth of our understanding of these ideas. Esti Marcus, LCSW and trauma therapist, joins me to discuss the Torah and psychological perspective on the teshuva process, and how it can be applied to all of the relationships on our lives. 

Dr. Aviva Goldstein is a Jerusalem based family and individual counselor who specializes in counseling gap-year yeshiva and seminary students - however her wisdom is applicable to kids of all ages, and her insight is so valuable to parents of kids at every stage. 

Jezliah grew up as the daughter of a pastor in a Sabbath-observing Christian church in Texas. When she was a teenager, her mom made some discoveries that literally turned their lives around. Jezliah's singing and dancing have always been a major part of her life, and her talents have helped her find her place in the Jewish community which she now calls her own. 

One year ago I spoke with Ilana Ybgi, Yaffy Newman, and Batyah Delmoor about their expriences being frum Women of Color. For this episode, Ilana and Yaffy joined me again (Batyah was unable to join due to other obligations), this time to talk about what the past year has been like with racism in the spotlight, along with their experiences with antisemitism on the rise. 

Noa Levy has been travelling the world since she was young, but over the years her journeys have become more adventurous - from walking African Safaris to the Taj Mahal and Malaysia, her incredible experiences and life lessons help form many of her unique life views. 

Dr. Alisa Minkin is a pediatrician who is passionate about advocating for health in the frum community and beyond. She covers a huge range of topics on the JOWMA Preventative Health podcast, and uses innovated methods to educated and inform. 

Chanie Fingerer is a Labor and Delivery nurse and Legal Nurse consultant, who is on a mission to educate women about pregnancy, birth, and the post-partum phase, so that they can be their own best advocates as they go through these experiences. 

Rhonda Malkin grew up in Southern California and started training as a dancer at four years old, leading to her professional dance career, where she danced at the highest levels in the industry, including the Rockettes. Along the way, she discovered her Jewish roots and became religious. Today, she uses her talents to train professional dancers and bring dance to frum community. 

Gila Muskin Block, co-founder of Yesh Tikva, joins me to talk about the challenges and stigma of infertility, and how her organization is breaking down barriers around the topic of infertility, both for couples who are struggling with infertility, and for community members. 

Yael Braun is a Toeness and "Divorce Planner" who helps people in the frum community navigate through the complexities of Beis Din, court cases, and arbitration. She is the only known woman in this role, and she sees herself as a strong advocate for women in going through divorces, going so far as to argue in front of dayanim on behalf of her clients. 

Managing your finances as a frum family can be a challenge! Chanie Friedman joins me to talk about how she helps families of all financial means with budgeting and managing their money in smarter ways. 

Project Proactive was founded in order to break down stigma surrounding mental health issues in the Jewish community.  Shoshana Mehler and Rebecca Shapiro are the two dedicated ladies behind this fantastic and forward-thinking organization, focused on proactive measures to improve mental health. 

Keshet Starr, CEO of Ora (Organization for the Resolution of Agunot) joins me to talk about the issues surrounding Jewish divorce, agunot, and the halachic prenup. Ora has been incredibly instrumental in helping both women and men navigate the difficulties of divorce.  

Is racism an issue in the frum community? I invited three guests to talk about this hot topic. Batyah Delmoor, Yaffy Newman, and Ilana Ygbi all share something in common - they are all frum women of color, but each also has a unique background and perspective. I am so honored that they agreed to join me to share their experiences and opinions. 

Avital Levin, director of education for Shalom Task Force, joins me to talk about domestic abuse  - how to recognize abuse, and particularly what to look out for as potential red flags while dating. Shalom Task Force is an organization that provides education to prevent abuse, and resources for those dealing with abuse.